With the onset of the winter season, train delays become more common due to dense fog and reduced visibility. To ensure that railway passengers don’t face much hassle, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will start providing special services to all those travelling on premium trains like Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto Express.
Under the IRCTC catering policy, passengers travelling on these trains will get free meals if their train is delayed by two or more hours beyond its scheduled arrival time. Depending on the time of day, passengers can expect a variety of meal options designed to cater to their needs. Here’s what that will look like:
Tea/Coffee Service: To start the journey, passengers are offered a comforting cup of tea or coffee accompanied by biscuits. Each tea/coffee service comes with a kit that includes sugar or sugar-free sachets and milk creamer.
Breakfast or Evening Tea: This consists of four slices of bread (either white or brown), butter, a 200ml fruit drink, and a cup of tea or coffee.
Lunch or Dinner: With an emphasis on wholesome, well-balanced meals, the IRCTC provides a variety of lunch and dinner alternatives. Rice with chole, rajma or yellow dal are popular options. Pickle sachets are served with every meal to enhance its flavour. As an alternative, travellers can opt for seven pooris with pickle sachets, mixed veggies, salt and pepper.
In cases of extreme delays, passengers are also eligible for a full refund on ticket cancellations. If the train is delayed by over three hours or rerouted, passengers can cancel their tickets and claim refunds through the original booking channel. Those who booked tickets at a railway counter must cancel them in person to receive a cash refund.
Beyond meals and refunds, Indian Railways also provides additional facilities to ensure passengers remain comfortable if delays happen. Waiting rooms are available at no extra charge, and food stalls at railway stations will remain open for extended hours, especially for late-night travellers. Additionally, extra personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) will be deployed to ensure the safety of passengers.
(With inputs from multiple news agencies)
